CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

CLARISSA.

I’d known that there was something off about the way my breakfast tasted that morning, but because I had chosen not to overthink it, I’d ignored it. Or wait — it wasn’t like I didn't want to overthink it, but I’d instead chosen to keep the uneasiness I felt all morning aside and focus on the meeting I was to have later that day. I’d made frequent glances at my phone screen while I continued to eat, waiting for a message notification which was supposed to be my signal to start leaving for the meeting. But halfway through my food, I began to feel an odd, painless tightness in my chest.

So when my phone rang, I was grateful to have a very valid reason to leave the table and figure out what was wrong with me before I started to prepare for the meeting. I couldn’t afford to show up for the meeting feeling uncomfortable or disorganized. When I staggered the first time, after I had finally stood up from the dining table, I still tried to reassure myself that everything was fine, b